In Tarn Taran, a border district of Punjab, villagers blocked the Chabbal-Bikhiwind main road this morning after a bank's branch allegedly denied them cash due "shortage of notes".

Chandigarh, Nov 30: Several bank branches and ATMs in Punjab, Haryana and here are going dry fast due to “insufficient” cash, even as heavy rush of people is expected in the first week of December due to disbursement of salaries and pensions. However, banks claimed that they were geared up so that customers do not face any problem while getting cash.

In Tarn Taran, a border district of Punjab, villagers blocked the Chabbal-Bikhiwind main road this morning after a bank’s branch allegedly denied them cash due “shortage of notes”, SHO (Bikhiwind) Rajbir Singh said.

Long queues at various branches and ATMs were a common sight throughout the day as people waited to withdraw cash, while bank staff at several places became victim to customers’ anger when they failed to get cash as per their requirement.

“I wanted to make cash withdrawal of Rs 10,000, But the bank manager told me that I could get only Rs 5,000 as the bank does not have enough cash,” Akhil Talwar, a resident of Mohali claimed.

However, bank officials said they were trying to accommodate all the customers with the available cash to ease the situation.

“We are trying to accommodate all customers… And that is why at some places, there was rationing of cash disbursement,” a bank official said here, adding, “People are hoarding cash which is adding to the problems.”

“I am standing in queue to withdraw my cash but I feel I am seeking loan from the bank,” a senior citizen standing in a queue at bank branch in Chandigarh said.

While people said they need to withdraw cash to pay their bills and buy groceries, a bank official said, “We are putting our best efforts to ensure customers do not face any inconvenience.”